A few months ago I saw a bus with an unfamiliar paint scheme parked in front of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's headquarters. Today the bus was again parked on 7th Street NW in Chinatown. The D.C. Circulator will begin running in July, and the bus was open for inspection. Two men were inside to answer questions and distribute brochures.
Two routes are planned. An east-west route will connect Union Station with Georgetown, via the convention center and K Street. A north-south route will connect the convention center, the MCI Center sports arena, the National Mall, and the Southwest Waterfront. Two more routes will open in the future. The bus website is www.dccirculator.com.
Fares will be low, at $1. Transfers from Metro services (rail and bus) will be free, and the SmarTrip smart fare card will be accepted for payment. Hours will be fairly generous, at 8:00am to 9:00pm every day.
This service strikes me as a marvelous idea, especially if the appropriate government officials ever get around to redoing K Street and giving it dedicated bus lanes. There will likely be winners and losers from the service:
WINNERS: all tourist destinations, especially Georgetown, which will now have a cheap and publicized mode of access. (I do wonder what will happen to the so-called "Blue Bus", which also serves Georgetown. However, the Blue Bus takes different routes to get to Georgetown than the new bus will. I would think the two will complement each other nicely.) Tourists themselves will benefit, as will conventioneers.
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massysett | 02:34 PM |
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Oh, and I love government...at the bottom of the Circulator brochure it says: "Brought to you by BID, DDOT, NCPC, WCCA, WCTC, & WMATA."
Another good route would be a continuation of the Bluebus M Street-Dupont Circle Line up Connecticut and Columbia over to either Mount Pleasant or Columbia Heights. This would be particularly good on weekends.
Here is the circulator master plan. It includes future routes and a lot of other detailed information.
Couple of points.
1. The K Street Busway is still in engineering, but it’s moving along and should happen eventually. WMATA thinks it will save them money in the long run anyway, so there’s really no reason in the world for it not to happen, unless people start complaining about how cars shouldn't have to share street width with transit.
2. Redevelopment is not much of an issue for the circulator, because except for the area south of the mall it doesn’t much serve potential redevelopment areas. K Street is already pretty much built out and no one is going to be building lofts on the Mall anytime soon.
3. Capacity *is* an issue, though it probably won’t be for a while. Eventually it wouldn’t surprise me if the K Street Busway got turned into the K Street Transitway, with both light rail and BRT running along it. Denver’s downtown circulator, the 16th Street shuttle, is already packed to the gills and won’t be able to handle all the additional traffic FasTracks will bring.
4. After the redevelopment argument, the next best argument for streetcars over buses is that streetcars are a whole helluva lot more comfortable to ride. Even trains that run in streets are much smoother than any bus, and if you don't think that's a big deal then you don't ride buses very often.
5. Despite all this rhetoric I'm spewing about streetcars being better than buses, buses absolutely are an integral part of any transit system, and many improvements should and can be made. The circulator is a great idea that is perfect for special buses, and every city should implement a network of LA MetroRapid style buses ASAP (which, thankfully, DC is in the process of planning).
BeyondDC -
Your links did not go through - could you try posting the URLs in plain text?
Sure. Dunno why they didn't work. HTML was correct.
Downtown Circulator Plan: http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1249,q,610284.asp
K Street Busway:
http://wmata.com/about/expansion/kst_busway.pdf
FasTracks:
http://rtd-denver.com/fastracks/
LA MetroRapid:
http://www.mta.net/projects_plans/rapid/overview.htm
DC in the process of planning:
http://wmata.com/about/expansion/RegBusStudy.pdf
Thanks for re-posting the links, BeyondDC.
Thanks for re-posting the links, BeyondDC.
Maybe it's just me, but I think this is a horrific idea. K street is already barely crawling during the day and now we're adding even more buses to the mix? I'm all for this idea when/if K street actually is re-configured, but this is an idea that's been in the works for years. In the past it never was able to get off the ground because there is no funding mechanism (fares will bring in 45% of operating costs). Even this test phase (at $6 million) almost didn't happen. Long story short - until they figure out where the cash is going to come from they shouldn't add more buses to the K street bottleneck.
Frank IBC! I agree - some public transport to Mt. P/Columbia Heights from varying areas is desperately needed.
Ah, its nice to see our tax dollars at work in DC, especially on public transportation projects that can benefit more than just suburban commuters. New buses, better bus stops, bike lanes and such warm my heart and make it a little easter to fill out a D-40. Then read about the new D.C. Circulator, a 29 bus fleet that will cross the city from Union Station to Georgetown and the Convention Center to the Waterfront.
Now, unless I'm loosing my geographic faculties, doesn't Metro already serve the Convention Center to Waterfront route, in addition a few above-ground bus lines? Isn't there already a Dupont/Foggy Bottom/Georgetown express bus, not to mention a fleet of 32/34/36 buses that go through downtown to G-town? So there is no real need for a new line, that is unless to talk to the backers of D.C. Curculator.
They wanna show folks, apparently mainly tourists, that they too can ride the bus and the experience will be nice and clean, not 'old and smoky' and give them a ride for $1, less than the cost of Metrorail or Metrobus. A ride that will cost $12.5 million to start that was squirreled away after a 1960's lawsuit and then $4.5 million a year from us DC taxpayers, to operate. A ride on buses that are the only good aspect of this boondoggle.
Metro is going to use European-style buses, ones that have floors at road height, not at the top of a staircase like the current Metrobuses. Buses that have huge wrap-around windows like our bueses should have. And just to make Tom happy, they will have much more standing room than the current seat-happy Metrobuses.
These are the kinds of buses we should've had already. The kinds of buses that the Europeans, masters of public transport, designed years ago and always win rider appreciation awards. The kinds of buses that would solve Metro's bus-image issue without resorting to building what is in effect a separate bus company in Washington DC.
Buses that Metro had the money for, that $12.5 million that somehow escaped use in the past 40 years. Where was that cash cow when Metro threatened shutdown a few years ago? Where was it until they came up with this Circulator boondoggle? And why are they wasting it on tourists now? I want me a D.C. Circulator bus too, right here on the S2 or better yet, 42 line, for us folks the Metro should be serving first – its loyal daily users.
Let the tourists walk, it'll be good for them.
I hate to monopolize comments with three in a row, but a few points in there need to be addressed.
First of all, you complain that the circulator serves existing routes and then later complain that instead of a new line they should run these buses on existing routes. Which is it?
WMATA *has* been improving existing routes with specialty service recently. PikeRide on Columbia Pike, the REX service on Route 1 and the 38B “Orange line with a view” between Ballston and Farragut Square come to time. Some of them even have low floors and big windows (though still more seats than standing room). There is surely a lot more that can be done, but to imply MetroBus service isn’t getting these sorts of enhancements is simply wrong.
This isn’t purely a WMATA operation. It’s a DC operation in the same sense that Arlington has ART, Alexandria the DASH and Montgomery County the Ride-On. In fact, until now, every county-level locality in the region had it’s own bus service except the District.
There is absolutely need for additional crosstown service. The Circulator (and later the busway) can be considered relief for extreme overcrowding on the Orange Line, surely an important local need.
These buses are not exclusively for tourists. The whole point of this sort of service is to make buses easier and faster for everyone. Frequent headways and simple routes along major corridors make buses more usable for the loyal daily crowd too. If a bus comes every 5 minutes you don’t have to schedule around it the way you do for a bus running every 30. Even if that were not the case, though, how can you claim a route along K Street, the heart of Washington’s business district and well removed from the Mall, is exclusively for tourists?
Sorry. One more thing and then I'll stop.
>K street is already barely crawling during the day and now we're adding even more buses to the mix?
Congestion is a problem so your response is to be *opposed* to something that makes the city less dependent on cars? If only a couple of people on the bus would have driven instead it takes up less room on the street than their individual cars.
BeyondDC is right about this not being a WMATA operation. It's funded by the District, a bunch of businesses, and the Convention Center authority. Washington Times article. The District asked Metro how much it would cost for Metro to operate the buses, and the District decided that the price was too high. Metro will instead "manage" the operation, with a contractor called First Transit running the buses. The company also runs shuttle buses at Baltimore Washington International Airport.
My point is that if DC Government (I mistakenly thought this was pure WMATA) is going to spend $12 mill now + $14 mill a year on 29 new buses, they should use them to replace/expand existing Metrobus lines that service DC residents.
A bus line that only runs to 9pm to ease overcrowding on the Orange-Blue line is only helping suburban commuters or tourists, not DC residents. DC residents can take one of the many bus lines that service G-town or the Blue Bus for the cross town route.
To the waterfront, the Green line goes right there, though I don't see many folks heading to H2O on the bus or the Metro. Those folks are driving to show off their bling. Even if they did, the 9pm end would have them taking Metrorail home anyway.
So a better use for the 29 buses would be to increase the number of Metrobuses avilible to folks on overcrowded existing lines. Metrobuses on Metrobus lines, not a new privatly run line, using Metrobus fare levels, not a discount of 20%, and running normal Metrobus times, not stopping at 9pm.
I think Metro needs to buy Van Hool busses, and replace those aged busses. Metro needs to copy AC Transit's Rapid Bus program.
I notice the Convention Center-Waterfront line replicates a portion Route 70 and 71. The Circulator should cease operation of the Waterfront-Convention Center line. WMATA sould start a new bus route called 70R, just like the AC Transit Route 72R.
Using the Van Hool busses; the fare system needs to go Proof of Payment System; bus stops needs to be spaced .5 to 1 mile apart; the bus stop signs needs to have a big stand out "Rapid" sign like AC Transit has; the bus shelters needs to have a stand out "Rapid" logo; a device that triggers traffic lights green-to reduce delays; the line should go from Silver Spring to Waterfront-following Ga Avenue to 7th St NW; the busses should remain red-instead of the word "Circulator", it should say "RAPID" with its Metro logo.
The advantage of a Route 70R: it won't replicate service under another stage name. It would serve more locations than the Circulator route, and be more attractive than the regular Route 70.
With the Union Station-Geoegetown, that should be called Route 20, it follows a portion the former DC Transit Trolley Route 20, Cabin John to Union Station line. That Union Station-Georgetown route needs to absorb Route N22 to the Navy Yard--the N22 bus is degraded. The Circulator needs to continue from Union Station, not turning into the loop but going straight on Mass Ave NE, turn right on 2nd Street NE, turn left on Penn Ave SE, turn right on 8th Street SE, turn right on M Street SE, terminating at the Navy Yard Metro. The present N22 excessively loops and has an unpredictable schedule.
On Friday and Saturdays, Circulator needs to run until 2-3 am.
The ideas I stated would benefit the system for tourists, DC residents, commuters, and politicians.
FYI, Here's a complaint I recently sent to the Regional VP for First Transit, Inc., the company that runs the Circulator:
Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16, 2005
Kenneth Gordon
Senior Region Vice President Kenneth Gordon
First Transit Inc.
Mr. Gordon:
I am writing to notify you of the consistently poor performance of many of your drivers operating the DC "Circulator Service" in Washington, D.C.
This morning provided a particularly bad example of your drivers' behaviour as well as their supervisors' response to such problem.
As you are aware the Circulator service as only two lines - one going East-West across town from Georgetown to Union Station (mainly along K Street and Massachusetts Ave.) and the second going North-South from the new Convention Center to Maine Ave. in SW Washington (traveling mainly along 7th & 9th Streets.
These two main E/W and N/S lines intersect every run at stops in the general vicinity of the the Convention Center - riders traversing DC frequently transfer at these intersections to reach their ultimate destinations.
This morning - Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2005, at approximately 9:30 AM I boarded a East/West line Circulator on K St. going east towards Union Station. My ultimate destination was the HUD Bldg. in SW Washington so I needed to transfer at the Convention Center in order to complete my trip on the next available North/South Circulator going south towards Maine Avenue, SW.
Accordingly, I disembarked from the E/W route Circulator at the Circulator stop located on the south side of Massachusetts Ave just across the intersection of Massashusetts Ave. and 9th St.
And, in order to catch the next N/S route Circulator going towards Maine Ave. (along which would be my destination at HUD near L'Enfant Plaza), I had to cross back over 9th St. and then cross Massachusetts Ave. to it's north side in order to get to your N/S route stop located there just a few steps north of the main intersection of Mass and 9th, NW.
As I was crossing 9th St. I looked and saw the next N/S route Circulator pulling up to the stop across Mass Ave. It was Circulator Bus #1107 and the driver was female. As I was walking hurriedly across Mass. Ave. I waved and hailed the driver - who was looking directly at me - that I was approaching to board her bus as she was sitting there at the 9th & Mass stop.
But as soon as I reached the sidewalk curb, the driver starting closing her door closed - which had been sitting open as she was sitting at the stop - (only a few steps away) watching me cross Mass. Ave. towards her.
I hailed her again - she clearly saw me - and she just plain choose to ignore, close her door, and proceeded to drive away right past me across Mass. Ave and down 9th St. - laughing and talking on a cellphone. Indeed she passed me so closely and so deliberately that I could reach out and knock on the bus door - but she still completely and deliberately ignored me and nearly ran over my foot at the curb!
Her bus was completely empty!
This entire episode was witnessed by the two DC Metro policemen directly the heavy congested traffice there at the intersection of Mass and 9th St.
Since this is not the first time I have encountered this kind of overt and just plain mean discourtesy on the part of one of your drivers I got my cell phone and immediately called your dispatching office at 301-925-2472. I was asked my name, telephone number, exact location and personal description and told that a supervisor was on location at the Convention Center (there right at Mass. & 9th) and would be coming to discuss my complaint immediately.
I waited 15 minutes - no supervisor anywhere around. I called 301-925-2472, I was told by the same male dispatcher than the supervisor was "caught in the traffic", but was coming.
I waited another 30 minutes - it is now going on 10:30 AM - I called 301-925-2472. The same male dispatcher now tells me that I should call 962-1423 and he gets surly when I ask him where's the supervisor that was supposed to show up and he starts talking over me and just repeating the 962-1423 number in this droning voice.
I called 962-1423 - on my cellphone, still standing at Mass & 9th St. w. the two DC policemen who witnessed you Bus No. 1107 driver's reckless behavior - and went through over 5 full minutes of voicemail, pre-recorded transfers and messages until I was disconnected without ever reaching a "live" operator.
I called the male dispatcher at 301-925-2472 again - now I'm late for my meeting, I've spent nearly twenty minutes of cellphone time and charges and I'm needless to say upset and frustrated.
However, the male dispatcher now apparently finds now finds my frustration entertainig and starts baiting me with remarks like "Lady, don't holler at me" - remember, I'm on a cellphone on the street with all sort of traffic around me and I've waiting for the promised appearance of a supervisor for over one hour at this point - and then refuses to give me his name or an office address where I can go and make a personal complaint about this entire incident.
Needless to say I was forced to just give up on the whole thing and proceed to my work appointment.
But you need to know - your people - many of the drivers and obviously office support staff like the supervisors and dispatchers not to mention the non-existent "Customer Service" operators at the posted 962-1423 "Circulator" customer office line - are just plain rude, unprofessional and generally unmanaged and inappropriate.
Please let me know I can further formally pursue my complaint with you. This matter was time-consuming and upsetting and it is not right that the Circulator Driver of Bus No. 1107 (on the North/South Circulator route - "Maine Avenue" on the during the morning shift of Wed., Nov. 16, 2005) as well as the Dispatcher involved in this incident can presume they can behave in this intolerable manner without accountablity.
Thank you.
